Oct. 4, 2013

OSHKOSH — The Greenville woman accused of shooting a Walmart co-worker in August will be moved to a mental health institution so experts can finish evaluating whether she is competent for trial.

Winnebago County Judge John Jorgensen granted a psychologist’s request Thursday that Justine Boyd, 47, be moved from jail to a mental health institution because Boyd was uncooperative and was difficult to communicate with. The doctor couldn’t tell whether Boyd was feigning illness or demonstrating legitimate symptoms.

“It’s the state’s position that, in fact, the evaluator’s recommendation is a result of malingering,” Deputy District Attorney Scott Ceman said.

Boyd was in Winnebago County Court on Thursday on a charge of attempted first-degree intentional homicide in the Aug. 14 shooting in Neenah.

Court records say Boyd shot a co-worker out of jealousy, because the victim was moved to an easier position in the liquor department at the Walmart store.

The victim, Sharon Goffard, 56, of Neenah, was lying behind a counter, soaked in blood and slipping in and out of consciousness when police arrived after the shooting about 11:15 a.m., but responded, “Justine, Justine,” when asked who had shot her.

When two Neenah police officers arrested Boyd inside the store, they found she had a cocked and loaded Sig Sauer semi-automatic handgun in the right front pocket of her shirt. They also discovered a loaded Taurus Rossi .38 Special revolver in Boyd’s bag, as well as additional ammunition for both guns in the bag and her shirt pockets.

Jim Curtis, an investigator with the Winnebago County District Attorney’s Office, was called to the witness stand Thursday to provide support to the notion Boyd is faking illness. He said there were notable differences when comparing the phone conversations she had with her husband in August and in September.

“Her whole tone and demeanor changed,” he said.

During August phone calls Boyd spoke conversationally and stopped her husband at any mention of the case knowing the calls were recorded.

During those calls, she started talking of premonitions and warned that family members faced harm. Her husband was at a baseball game during one of the calls.

“She wanted him to leave the baseball game, because he was in danger,” Curtis said.

Competency is legally defined as the ability to understand court proceedings and provide assistance to the defense attorney.

Boyd will undergo evaluation at the Winnebago Mental Health Institution. Jorgensen said an inpatient evaluation will provide a clearer picture to whether mental illness is a factor.

“They can watch her and how she interacts with other people,” he said.